Israel finds another cross-border tunnel

A still from a video released by the IDF shows the route of tunnel from the Gaza Strip to Egypt's North Sinai province via Israeli territory. Source: Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on 14 January that it had destroyed a Hamas tunnel dug from the Gaza Strip to Egypt via the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel.

An Israeli Air Force fighter bombed part of the tunnel in Gaza on 13 January before IDF Combat Engineer units demolished the part inside Israel.

IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Cornicus said the tunnel was 1.5 km, 900 m of which was in Gaza and 180 m in Israel.

“We just completed the destruction of a third terror tunnel [in recent weeks]," Lt Col Cornicus said. “We treat it as yet another severe violation of sovereignty… we understand that Hamas views it as a significant asset.”

The IDF said the tunnel was intended to be used to attack Israeli security personnel at the Kerem Shalom crossing and a nearby IDF post, as well as smuggle weapons in from Egypt.

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